The Tour de France for the Rest of Us

Smitten by the Tour de France? This site is for those of us who stand on the outside looking in. It gets past the techno-babble and opens up the heart of this great cycling event--or is that "metaphor for life?"--to the rest of us. Enjoy the ride!

Friday, June 30, 2006

TOUR EVE CATASTROPHE

Jan Ullrich is out.

Ivan Basso is out.

Francisco Mancebo is out.

Joseba Beloki is out.

Though he is personally innocent, Alexandre Vinokourov's team is out.

Before the day is over, Tour de France organizers expect 15-22 riders to be out of the race one day before it starts.

All are implicated in a sophisticated stealth doping regimen prescribed by Spanish physician Eufemiano Fuentes. The evidence in the Spanish police investigation "Operacion Puerta" is just now available to cycling team leaders. Allegations that have been reported in the press and via rumors is now confirmed. And teams are dutifully suspending implicated riders.

The scandal is unprecedented and incredibly damaging. It is tragic. It is sad. It is disgusting. It is unnerving. Ullrich's ex-trainer Peter Becker calls it correctly: "It is a catastrophe."

Suspending riders on strong evidence of doping is necessary. Giving them a fair hearing and letting justice be done is also necessary. Claims and written statements of innocence must be met with unequivocal evidence of wrong-doing. Words and deeds must be verified...now more than ever.

Monday, June 26, 2006

CYCLING'S A LITTLE NUTS RIGHT NOW

- A Spanish inquisition (Operacion Puerta) into alleged use of banned performance-enhancing drugs is currently underway. Apparently, 58 professional cyclists are named in the inquiry. Those named (though not convicted) will likely not be permitted to ride in the Tour de France.

- Lance Armstrong, recently cleared of allegations of taking EPO in his first Tour de France win and fresh off winning a multi-million dollar lawsuit that further exonerates him, launches a campaign to oust World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA) director Dick Pound.

- Simultaneously, leaked court testimony from that same lawsuit indicates that Armstrong's former teammate Frankie Andreu and his wife alleged Armstrong admitted to using banned substances prior to his chemotherapy for cancer. Armstrong's doctor denies any such responses from him.

- And, on another front, three-time winner Greg Lemond alleges that Armstrong personally threatened him, trying to get him to shut up about whatever he knew or thought he knew about the use of banned substances.

And that's just cycling news within the past seven days!

Okay, so the professional cycling world is a little nuts right now...

What's new?

Part of this is exploitative French media hype leading up to the Tour de France. Part of this is a legitimate attempt to cleanse the sport of cheating. And part of this is inexcusable and destructive personal vindictiveness. Collectively, it is disastrous for the sport.

No professional sport can survive this kind of turmoil for very long. And professional cycling, just gaining a foothold in the minds and hearts of an increasing number of Americans, is at risk of disappearing entirely from the radar screen of legitimate competitive sport.

Americans, in particular, won't endure scandal in sport for very long. They seem to have a short fuse, especially, for French tabloid journalism and European honchos who take selective and low aim at American competitors. Those who continue to cheat or rake muck are putting much at risk. It's time to stop the game.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

2006 TdF COUNTDOWN

Question: When does the 2006 Tour de France begin?

Answer #1: Not soon enough!

Answer #2: What?!

Answer #3: Saturday, July 1st...just a few days from now.

UNADULTERATED ENTHUSIASM. Excuse me if I get a bit weird over the next few weeks. July is the one month out of the year that I express unadulterated enthusiasm, caring less about who scoffs, rolls their eyes, criticizes, dismisses, or makes fun of me. I go in for the Tour de France like some folks go in for the World Cup or NASCAR or the World Series. This 2,000+ mile race from July 1 to July 23 grabs my heart and I follow it ever so closely.

POST-ARMSTRONG FREE-FOR-ALL. Even without the phenomenal American cancer survivor Lance Armstrong riding the TdF, I am anticipating the thrill of this year's spectacular race, one stage (day) at a time. Every Tour develops different dynamics and race leadership can change dramatically. Without one dominant rider now, there are about ten world-class cyclists--including three Americans--who can take the lead or stand atop the podium in France. It could be a free-for-all.

FOR THE REST OF US. Contrary to what you read elsewhere, understanding and following the Tour de France is not difficult. My Tour de France updates and commentary are intended to spare readers of insider cycling verbiage, that's why I call it "The Tour de France for the Rest of Us." Feel free to check here daily for easy-to-understand Tour information and updates, links and comments, reviews and projections.

FAVORITES AMONG MANY CONTENDERS. There are many contenders who could win this year's Tour de France. A contender is one who has a record of recent wins or high placements, a strong team, and a balance of abilities in time trialing, mountain climbing, and aggressiveness. My favorite to win? Ivan Basso. This Italian finished second to Armstrong in last year's Tour. He was the only rider to consistently stay with Armstrong last year. He has proven himself strong in spring racing, winning the Giro d'Italia going away. He is supported by a solid team. Basso is a mountain climbing specialist, but he is just above average in time trials. A total of 116 kilometers of individual time trials may be too much for him against the power of Ullrich.

Other possible winners:

Jan Ullrich, the only previous Tour winner in this year's race; Jan is reported to be in great shape, highly motivated, and is riding with a great T-Mobile team. He is an individual time trial monster.

Alexandre Vinokourov, the ever-aggressive Khazak (if his team is permitted to start the race).

Floyd Landis, the former Armstrong teammate and American waiting in the wings.

Levi Leipheimer, the Montanan who will bide his time on the flats and make his moves in the mountains.

Cadel Evans, the Aussies' great hope.

And, as a long shot, big George Hincapie, the ever-faithful and always capable Armstrong lieutenant; question: who will lead the multi-talented Discovery Channel team? Hincapie? Paolo Salvodelli? Yaroslav Popovich? Tom Danielson?

Friday, June 02, 2006

ARMSTRONG CLEARED

For anyone who cares about professional cycling or who has followed the story of accusations of doping by Lance Armstrong in the 1999 Tour de France (the first of seven consecutive wins for the American), news today that an independent investigator has cleared Armstrong is important information. Read the full story online at USA Today.

SENSATIONAL ACCUSATIONS REFUTED. Armstrong was implicated in using performance enhancing EPO by French newspaper L'Equipe shortly after he won his seventh Tour de France championship last July. The newspaper claimed to have matched Armstrong's rider identification number to tests performed retroactively on blood samples he gave during the 1999 TdF and frozen since 1999. Today's 132-page report condemns the lab that did the faulty tests, the anti-coping body WADA that commissioned them, and those who conspired to attempt to discredit Armstrong.

LUSTER RESTORED? The report, commissioned by the UCI, effectively clears Armstrong and restores the luster to his unprecedented feat. After L'Equipe made its sensationalized accusations last summer, the head of the Tour de France, Jean Marie LeBlanc, bought into the newspaper's analysis and publicly cast a shadow of doubt on Armstrong's contributions to the Tour. Whether or not LeBlanc and the French press who tried to discredit Armstrong will recant remains to be seen--don't count on it. I am sure they will insist the report sidestepped issues.

PERSONAL RESPONSE. Me? I am relieved. I hope the cycling community and cancer community will be reassured by this report that Lance is the real deal, not a drug-enhanced cheater. It is good to know, also, that resolution can--and has--come to this issue that has lingered for nearly a year. Not sure the cycling community will see this as a done deal, but it is a step in the direction of closure.

Green Jersey - jersey worn by the top sprinter or points leader; in French - "maillot vert"; points awarded for designated sprints during each stage and at the finish line

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Polka-dot Jersey - white with red polka-dots jersey worn by the top mountain climber; in Frenh - "maillot pois"; a/k/a "King of the Mountains"; points awarded for the first riders at the crest of any categorized peak

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White Jersey - jersey worn by the best-placed rider no more than 25 years old

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Stage - a single-day course; there are 21 stages (racing days) in the Tdf

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Peloton - the main group of cyclists riding together

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Attack the peloton - one or more cyclists launching an effort to move ahead of the peloton and try win the stage on a solo or small group effort

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Escapees - the riders who succeed in their attack on the peloton, riding ahead in a breakaway effort to win the stage apart from the peloton

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Breakaway - another way to describe a successful "attack" by "escapees"

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Staying clear - describes "escapees" on a "breakaway" who continue to maintain a lead over the peloton; they "stay clear" of the group

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Reel in / chase down - the peloton picks up speed and begins to gradually close the time gap between "escapees" and the peloton

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On the point - the leading rider of the peloton or a small group of riders; the cyclist on the point is doing hard work, taking the wind, setting the pace, while he creates a slipstream or draft for his teammates or other riders to follow in with relative ease

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Drafting - multiple cyclists riding in a line, so as to have the benefit of the wind break and pacing created by the leading rider in the group

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Wheel sucker - a rider who takes advantage of your draft but does not take a turn in front of you on a breakaway or draft line

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Bonking - running out of energy amid a critical part of a stage; a/k/a "hit the wall"

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Suffering - suffering

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Domestique - team riders who work for the advantage of the designated team leader, sacrificing their own chances to win the race or a stage

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Mule - a rider designated to fetch food, water and supplies for the other members of the team while riding

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Categorized climbs - mountain climbs are categorized (abbreviated "Cat") for degree of difficulty. Categories are determined by length of the climb, height to be climbed, and degree of gradient. In lay terms, a Cat 4 is hard; Cat 3 is harder; Cat 2 is more difficult; Cat 1 is most difficult; HC is means, literally, "beyond categorization," or incredibly difficult, usually a mountain at or over 5,000 feet above sea level

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Feed zone - a designated part of the course in which riders may eat, usually at least 50 km after the start but not less than 20 km from the end of the stage; race etiquette provides that no rider may attack or gain advantage over the peloton during a designated feed zone.

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More to come

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'06 TdF Facts

21 teams

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9 riders per team

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189 riders at the start

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A Prologue + 20 day-long stages

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Distance: 3,600 km (2240 mi)

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Avg speed: 40+ km (25+ mph)

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9 flat stages

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4 medium mountain stages

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5 mountain stages

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3 mountain-top finishes

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22 Category 1, 2, and HC (highest category) mountains

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2 individual time trials (116 km total, including Prologue)

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No team trial this year

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2 rest days

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Longest stage: 239.5 km (Stage 17, July 20)

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1st year: 1903

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Years raced: 93

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Most wins by a rider: 7 (Lance Armstrong)

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15 million roadside spectators this year

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Calorie input/output per stage: 9,000

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'05 TdF Quotes

David Zabriskie after winning Stage 1: "It's amazing, unbelievable...I have no idea how long I can keep (the maillot jaune). I didn't think I could win but it feels great...it's an amazing accomplishment for me; I never, ever expected this to happen. It's turning out well for me."

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Jan Ullrich on being passed by Lance Armstrong during the Stage 1 individual time trial: "I rode flat out; I gave all I had... I would have liked to have ridden better, and gave it all - it wasn't a nice feeling when he passed me. I'm down over it at the moment, but the Tour lasts three weeks. We'll see what's in it in time."

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Lance Armstrong on being required to pull on the Yellow Jersey at the official start line of Stage 5 after he attempted to NOT wear it in respect for David Zabriskie, who lost the maillot jaune due to a freak crash in Stage 4: "It was very simple, really. (Tour de France Race director) Jean Marie LeBlanc said 'if you don't wear the maillot jaune today, you won't start tomorrow. What are you going to do...I wanted to try and do the right thing, but I understand that (the Tour) has an obligation to sponsors. People might drive for hours to wait by the side of the road to see the maillot jaune."

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Robbie McEwen on his chances of winning the Green Jersey competition after being penalized for apparent head-butting in Stage 3 but bouncing back to win Stages 5 & 7: âI very much doubt that I can still win [the green jersey]. I donât need the green jersey to know that Iâm the best sprinter. Iâm not going to concentrate on it anymore; Iâm just going to go for stage wins.â

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TdF "Guts" Awards candidates

As the TdF progresses, I will nominate riders who demonstrate "guts" even though "glory" may evade them. The top ten will be recognized in my 2nd Annual TdF "Guts" Awards' (no money at stake...what is mere money compared to being recognized for having "guts?"

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2005 TdF "Guts" Award winner: Alexandre Vinokourov - The Khazak attacked relentlessly throughout the mountain stages, challenging the top contenders time after time. Vino defines aggressiveness in professional cycling today

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About Me

I live in and love Indianapolis, guide community-based nonprofits, serve as pastor to a small urban church, occasionally teach courses in the School for Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University (IUPUI), and ride a bicycle as often as possible.